Action rarely drifted from a phone booth's distance for much of the night, which seemed to discourage Puerta at times. Rodriguez was effective early on in smothering the punches of his heavily favored opponent, the best laid strategy given his considerable height and reach (if not talent) disadvantage.

Puerta eventually made the necessary adjustments, at which point the fight became an entertaining showcase for the 30-year old Sinaloa native. Round after round, Puerta began breaking down his foe. Rodriguez was game for the cause, though it eventually proved to be the journeyman's undoing.

By round eight, Puerta was landing at will. The turn of events was not lost on referee Lupe Garcia, whose rescuing of Rodriguez at round's end caused initial confusion. The third man stepped in just as the bell rang to end round eight. Rodriguez sat on his stool receiving instructions from his corner as if there was going to be a 9th round, while Puerta and his cornermen were already celebrating.

In the end, Puerta's people had it right, as the fight was stopped at 2:59 of round eight.

Puerta improves to 21-4-1 (19KO) with his 10th straight win, all but one of which have come inside the distance.

Rodriguez falls to 24-14-4 (13KO), having now dropped four of his last five.

The frivilous belt at stake is merely a placeholder for Puerta. The silver title claim indicates his mandatory status for a 130 lb. belt. His title shot could come against countryman Gamaliel Diaz, who won the belt in a major upset over Takahiro Aoh last October.